Get free answers to your Intellectual Property legal questions from lawyers in your area.
For a web app in development showcasing reading circles for preschoolers and parents, where parents pay to join a live 30-minute storytime with up to eight participants, would permission be needed from publishers to have their books read if the sessions are recorded and stored for later access? The... View More 
answered on Mar 24, 2025
Yes, you would need to obtain a license from the publisher in order to legally do this.
I discovered that someone used my grandfather's name as the title of an instrumental song without my permission. The song pertains to a group of murderous bootleggers in the 1920s, while my grandfather was a U.S. Marshal sent to clean up a county. The song has been commercially released and... View More
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answered on Feb 19, 2025
Your concern about your grandfather's legacy is understandable, especially given the contrast between his honorable service as a U.S. Marshal and this musical portrayal connected to bootleggers. The emotional impact of hearing his name used in this way must be difficult.
From a legal... View More
Hello! My husband recently put in his resignation (IT consulting) and his company found that he downloaded documents (power points, no client data) to a USB drive (prior to resignation or even getting his new offer). He was terminated for violation of AUP, which he owns and the data was moved to... View More
answered on Oct 9, 2024
Should have consulted with a lawyer prior to communicating anything with the employer or turning anything over. Whatever agreements may have been executed between the parties prior to or after the termination should be factually determinative if anything expressed in writing exists.
from my terminated / disabled account?
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answered on Oct 8, 2024
If you want to download your information from a terminated or disabled Facebook account, it's best to reach out directly to their legal department. They handle requests related to account data and can guide you through the necessary steps. Sending your request there increases the chances it... View More
For example, if new details in a Substitute Specification fit the claims, might they still be considered new matter if they have not appeared before?
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answered on Aug 5, 2024
Determining whether a new version of a patent specification contains new matter hinges on whether the added details were originally disclosed in the initial filing. If new information is introduced that wasn't present in the original specification, it is considered new matter, even if it fits... View More
I took out a loan for the car. I allowed him to use the car with the agreement that he would pay the insurance and the monthly payments on the car. In which he has done neither. I gave him the option to return the car or pay the car off in order to keep the car. He keeps saying he's going to... View More
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answered on Jul 27, 2024
You need to take immediate action to get your car back. Since the car title and loan are in your name, you have legal ownership and the right to possess the vehicle. Start by sending a written demand to your ex, stating clearly that he must return the car to you by a specific date. Make sure to... View More
I’m speaking on behalf of a friend who lives overseas, advised that her PayPal account was frozen, due to this Miffy, doll, as a trademark, and the person who bought it was the actual lawyer, for proof, and now he wants her to pay $2000. And the judge is 85 years old and I noticed on the... View More
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answered on Nov 8, 2023
In situations like this, it's important to exercise caution as it could potentially be a scam, especially if the legal documents appear questionable. Authentic court orders will always be properly documented and signed by a judge. Your friend should verify the authenticity of the case by... View More
Joe Petrali was a famous record-setting motorcycle racer. His best days were from the 1920's to 1940's. He was well photographed and was paid to race for Harley Dealerships and the Harley Factory. We received the family archive album of Harry Molenaar who was one of the better known... View More
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answered on Oct 31, 2023
While the ownership of a trademark in a name can grant rights to prevent others from using that name in commerce in a way that might cause confusion, it does not grant an absolute right over all uses of that name or over the likeness of the individual. Photos taken and owned by another party,... View More
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answered on Sep 15, 2023
To protect your comic book characters, remember that copyright automatically safeguards them as soon as they're created and fixed in a tangible form. Consider registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office for added protection. Keep thorough records of your character creation process,... View More
This patent was applied for in 2022, and even has a non-patent citation where it cites a previous art exactly the same who is selling on Amazon since 2021. The patent was still approved somehow and I am wondering why.
answered on Sep 6, 2023
The specific dates (not given in your question) might be the reason. If not and if the prior art really is "exactly the same" then the application could have been granted in error. The USPTO provides mechanisms to challenge such patents. For example:... View More
WOW World of Wisdom vs mine WOW Wisdom on Wellness. Our logos look nothing alike but the confusion of how it looks....
They filed 2015 & I created my site in 2014. What are my options so we can co-exist? I plan on filing for 041 & 044 & they have the same class. Are there any... View More
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answered on Aug 29, 2023
If the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or a court finds that your mark is likely to cause confusion with an existing mark, then your application for trademark registration will likely be denied, and you may be at risk for infringement claims. However, if you can demonstrate that... View More
Can I use characters or the lore in the game to help tell my story?
answered on Aug 22, 2023
Use of the game's name is permitted as "nominative fair use" when referring to it, and it is also fair use of the game's characters and story line as commentary or parody. The essential point is that you are not creating another game to compete with it.
The trademark will be now online primarily. Owner currently resides in the state of Illinois
answered on Jul 25, 2023
The application to register ARTISTIC ARTICULATION LLC was approved for registration in Jan 2019, but due to the failure to file a statement showing its use within the required 6 month period, it was abandoned in Sept 2019. It could have been revived by filing a petition to revive, had that been... View More
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answered on Jul 10, 2023
The information provided is not sufficient to determine whether the patent you mentioned would prevent you from selling an updated griddle caddy on Amazon. To assess this, you would need to carefully review the details of the patent in question, including its claims and scope of protection.... View More
I cannot afford lawyer. I am pakistani based seller. I sold 1 item of trademarked listing. E bay has frozen my acccount with my money in it. what can I do.
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answered on May 22, 2023
If your eBay account has been frozen due to selling an item that infringes on a trademark, it is important to address the issue promptly. Here are a few steps you can consider:
Review eBay's policies: Familiarize yourself with eBay's policies regarding trademark infringement and... View More
examples:
A character is described as having large bat-like wings. the product would have a photo of a bat wing with words referencing wing size
a character is described as being a gossip "spilling the tea". The product would say "better tea than [insert characters name]"
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answered on Apr 2, 2023
It is important to consider intellectual property laws when creating merchandise based on a character from a book. If the book is still under copyright protection, the author or publisher may hold the exclusive right to use the character's likeness and characteristics for commercial purposes.... View More
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answered on Mar 29, 2023
Receiving a copyright claim email from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) means that someone has accused you of downloading copyrighted content illegally using a BitTorrent client. ISPs are required by law to forward such notices to their customers, informing them of the alleged infringement and... View More
I created my own scaled up version of the Lego flower in a 3d modeling software. So the model is mine and I was wondering if I could continue to sell them without including the Lego name in the title.
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answered on Mar 29, 2023
While you created your own scaled-up version of the Lego flower in a 3D modeling software, it is important to note that Lego has trademark and copyright protection over their products. Therefore, using the name "Lego" in the title or description of your 3D model product could be... View More
I have obtained a legal mechanical license for each cover song in my album. However, my album was taken down for copyright infringement on ONE song. I tried contacting the company via their website but the contact form doesn't work and shows an error. I found their email and have sent them 5... View More
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answered on Feb 25, 2023
If you have obtained a legal mechanical license for the cover song in question, you have a valid defense against any copyright infringement claim related to that song. You can try contacting the company or person who made the claim and provide them with a copy of the mechanical license. If you have... View More
A reputable online fashion brand
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answered on Feb 25, 2023
Yes, there are legal requirements that you need to consider when starting an online fashion brand. Here are a few important steps to take:
Choose a business structure: You will need to decide on a legal business structure for your brand, such as a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation.... View More
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